B BSO — 2026/04/18

 This evening we get two second-tier staples sandwiching a sort of world premiere. Here's WCRB's synopsis: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2026-01-08/malkki-the-jussens-and-a-bso-world-premiere

Saturday, April 18, 2026
8:00 PM

Dutch duo-pianists Lucas and Arthur Jussen perform a BSO-commissioned piece written for them by American composer and Grawemeyer Award-winner Andrew Norman. Finnish conductor Susanna Mälkki also leads the BSO in Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances and Ravel’s beloved Mother Goose suite.

Susanna Mälkki, conductor
Lucas and Arthur Jussen, pianos

Maurice RAVEL Mother Goose Suite
Andrew NORMAN Split, for two pianos and orchestra (world premiere; BSO co-commission)
Sergei RACHMANINOFF Symphonic Dances, Op. 45

Learn more about the Boston Symphony Orchestra's 2025-2026 season on their site.

In a preview of the program, Susanna Mälkki describes the character and challenge of Andrew Norman's Split, why Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances is one of her favorite pieces, and what she looks for in building effective artistic relationships with orchestras.

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT (lightly edited for clarity):

Brian McCreath I'm Brian McCreath at Symphony Hall with Susanna Mälkki, who's back with the Boston Symp

It turns out Split was originally composed in a version for one piano over ten years ago. The composer has reworked itinto the two piano version which the BSO is premiering this week.

More information, including performer bios and program notes, are available at the BSO performance detail page, where we see the following:

Boston Symphony Orchestra Susanna Mälkki, conductor Lucas and Arthur Jussen, Pianos RAVEL Mother Goose Suite  Andrew NORMAN Split, for two pianos and orchestra (world premiere; BSO co-commission)       intermissionRACHMANINOFF Symphonic Dances  

Popular Dutch duo-pianists Lucas and Arthur Jussen return to Symphony Hall for a BSO-commissioned world premiere. This music was written especially for them by American composer Andrew Norman, winner of the prestigious Grawemeyer Award for his orchestral work Play. Maurice Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite brings the composer’s mastery of orchestral color to his fairy-tale suite, originally written for piano, four-hands. Closing the program is Sergei Rachmaninoff’s tour-de-force for orchestra, by turns powerfully energetic and meltingly lyrical: his Symphonic Dances, the composer’s final work.

So far I don't see any reviews in either the Globe or the Intelligencer.

I was at the Friday afternoon performance. The Ravel was fine but unexciting. The Jussen brothers were excellent. Unfortunately the music they and the orchestra had to play was mostly loud and unappealing (to me anyway). The brothers would have something nice and then the orchestra would crash in. A musician might see something worthwhile or admire the composer's technique, but it was lost on me. Maybe I'll like it better over the radio this evening. The Jussens certainly deserved the enthusiastic applause they got. I paid closer attention to the Stravinsky than I do when it's being played as part of the regular radio programming and functions nore as background music. So I noticed parts (mostly softer ones) which usually escape my attention. It's a pretty good piece if not up to the level of the greatest compositions of all time.

Bottom line: it's worth listeningg to the concert, especially if the Jussens give us an encore.

B BSO/Classical New England — 2026/04/11

 This evening WCRB gives us the concert which was performed two weeks ago. Here's their description: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2026-04-07/american-icons-adams-nixon-in-china-and-dvoraks-new-world

Saturday, April 11, 2026
8:00 PM

Opera luminaries Thomas Hampson and Renée Fleming perform three scenes from John Adams’ groundbreaking Nixon in China with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. Inspired by Richard Nixon's 1972 visit to the People's Republic of China, Nixon in China is considered one of the most consequential operas in American history. After, Andris Nelsons leads the Boston Symphony in Antonín Dvořák's New World Symphony, which was composed when Dvořák's was living in the U.S. Bursting with sweeping melodies, Dvořák's Ninth Symphony blends Bohemian soul with the spirit of America.

John ADAMS Three Scenes from Nixon in China     
Antonín DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9, From the New World  

This concert was recorded on March 28, 2026 at Symphony Hall.

The BSO performance detail page puts it like this: https://www.bso.org/events/mar-26-28-adams-dvorak?performance=2026-03-28-20:00

Boston Symphony Orchestra Andris Nelsons, conductor Renée Fleming, soprano (Pat Nixon) Thomas Hampson, baritone (Richard Nixon) Tanglewood Festival Chorus Lisa Wong, guest choral conductorJohn ADAMS Three Scenes from Nixon in China*       intermissionDVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9, From the New World  

*Performed with English supertitles

John Adams’ Nixon in China redefined opera by taking as its subject matter recent world events. Opera luminaries Thomas Hampson and Renée Fleming bring excerpts from this groundbreaking work to the Symphony Hall stage. Nixon in China established Adams as the most significant opera composer of the past 50 years. Composed while the Czech Antonín Dvořák was living in the U.S., the New World Symphonybursts with sweeping melodies, blending Bohemian soul with the spirit of America and incorporating the sounds and songs of both worlds into the iconic and oft-quoted work we know today.

The program notes are still available and may be interesting.

There is a nice review https://classical-scene.com/2026/03/28/bso-icons/ in the Intelligencer. The Globe review https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/28/arts/andris-nelsons-bso-dvorak-ovations/?event=event12 is more a news story, and is tepid when it comes to the performances.

I saw a performance of Nixon in China once. One line that has stuck with me is when the Nixons are in their hotel room reminiscing about their experience during WWII, and he says, "The Pacific Theater was nothing to write home about."

I think the show should be worth listening to.

BSO/Classical New England — 2026/03/29

 For whatever reason, WCRB is giving us an "encore broadcast" instead of tonight's concert from Symphony Hall. Here's their blurb: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2024-10-31/revolucion-diamantina-with-the-crossing-giancarlo-guerrero-alban-gerhardt

WCRB

Classical Music on WCRB

JS Bach: Complete Keyboard ConcAll StreamsSaturday, March 28, 2026

8:00 PM

In an encore broadcast, hear acclaimed Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz's ballet score Revolución diamantina, exploring the powerful, feminist “Glitter Revolution” campaign in Mexico that highlighted the epidemic of violence against women. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wonderfully depicts love’s passion and an infernal whirlwind in his tone poem Francesca da Rimini, and Alban Gerhardt is soloist in the composer’s charming Variations on a Rococo Theme.

Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor
Alban Gerhardt, cello
The Crossing 
 Donald Nally, Artistic Director

Gabriela ORTIZ Revolución diamantina
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY Variations on a Rococo Theme, for cello and orchestra
TCHAIKOVSKY Francesca da Rimini

This concert was originally broadcast on March 1, 2025.

In a preview of this concert, conductor Giancarlo Guerrero describes Gabriela Ortiz's Revolución diamantina, how Tchaikovksy's music relates to it, and what he's looking forward to in his new position as Music Director of the Sarasota Orchestra next season. Listen with the player above, and read the transcript below.

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT:

Brian McCreath I'm Brian McCreath at Symphony Hall with Giancarlo Guerrero, who's back

 

Speculation is that Renee Fleming's cpntract doesn't allow her performance to be broadcast. In any event, it's not being broadcast. I posted about the concert we'll be getting last year, so you can "Read all about it.

Enjoy.

BSO — 2026/03/21

 FYI https://classical-scene.com/2026/03/06/andris-nelsons-to-retire/#comment-48715

This evening WCRB broadcasts a concert of music by Schumann and Tchaikovsky. Here's their description: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2026-01-08/the-romance-of-schumann-with-yunchan-lim-and-the-bso

Saturday, March 21, 2026
8:00 PM

In a program that embodies the heightened emotions of the Romantic spirit, 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition winner Yunchan Lim returns to Symphony Hall for Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto, followed by Tchaikovsky’s musical interpretation of a Lord Byron drama, the “Manfred” Symphony.

Andris Nelsons, conductor
Yunchan Lim, piano

Robert SCHUMANN Piano Concerto
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY Manfred

The BSO's performance detail page tells us more, and if you go to the page itself and click on the arrows, you can access program notes and performer bios. https://www.bso.org/events/mar-19-22-schumann-tchaikovsk?performance=2026-03-21-20:00

Boston Symphony Orchestra Andris Nelsons, conductor Yunchan Lim, piano SCHUMANN Piano Concerto       intermissionTCHAIKOVSKY Manfred  

Vaulted to worldwide prominence as the youngest-ever winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Yunchan Lim returns to Symphony Hall for Robert Schumann’s lyrical, introspective Piano Concerto, written for his wife Clara, one of the most admired pianists of the 19th century. Inspired throughout his life by literary sources, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote his Manfred — actually a four-movement symphony — based on Lord Byron’s Gothic verse play of the same name about a nihilistic nobleman wandering the Alps in search of meaning.

The Globe has a review/news story https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/20/arts/bso-andris-nelsons-heros-welcome-symphony-hall/?p1=BGSearch_Overlay_Results which praises the performance. There is also an admiring review in the Intelligencer https://classical-scene.com/2026/03/20/champions-cross-symphony-hall/ which does not ignore the context.

Even without the added drama, this seems to be a concert well worth listening to.

BSO — 2026/03/07

 Tonight we get an all Brahms concert conducted by the venerable Herbert Blomstedt. WCRB describes the program and offeers an interview with Maestro Blomstedt. https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2026-03-07/blomstedt-conducts-an-all-brahms-program-with-the-bso

Saturday, March 7, 2026
8:00 PM

Nonagenarian Swedish conductor Herbert Blomstedt returns to Symphony Hall to lead an All-Brahms program, including two choral masterpieces, Nänie and Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny), sung by the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and and his Fourth Symphony.

Herbert Blomstedt, conductor
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
Lisa Wong, guest choral conductor

All-Johannes BRAHMS program
Schicksalslied, for chorus and orchestra
Nänie, for chorus and orchestra
Symphony No. 4

In a conversation with CRB's Brian McCreath, Herbert Blomstedt describes the relevance of the two choral works by Brahms to today's world, the complementary character of the Symphony No. 4, and what's behind his long-time success as a leader of orchestral musicians. To listen, use the player above, and read the transcript below. 

Learn more about the Boston Symphony Orchestra's 2025-2026 season on their site.

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT (lightly edited for clarity):

Brian McCreath I'm Brian McCreath, and I'm with Herbert Blomstedt,

The BSO's performance detail page gives a more extensive introduction as well as providing links to the performer bios and program notes, for which you have to go to the orchestra's page and click on the arrow after the item you want. https://www.bso.org/events/mar-5-7-brahms?performance=2026-03-07-20%3A00

Boston Symphony Orchestra Herbert Blomstedt, Conductor Tanglewood Festival Chorus Lisa Wong, guest choral conductorBRAHMS Schicksalslied*, for chorus and orchestra  BRAHMS Nänie, for chorus and orchestra*       intermissionBRAHMS Symphony No. 4  

*Performed in German with English supertitles

Two choral masterpieces, Brahms’ Nänie (Lament) and Schicksalslied(Song of Destiny), crystallize the haunting beauty of classical poetry set to music, exploring fate, loss, and divine indifference. Brahms’ fourth and final symphony is a work of brooding intensity, a symphonic elegy that balances lyrical warmth with memorable motifs and an explosive grand finale. Initially nervous about the work's reception, Brahms downplayed the symphony, calling it "a bunch of polkas and waltzes.” While dance elements are present, the truth is that these dances form the foundation of a mountain of a piece that capped off Brahms's career.

There is a friendly review https://classical-scene.com/2026/03/06/altar-brahms/ in the Intelligencer. So far, nothing in the Globe.

Who knows how many more years Herbert Blomstedt has left? Enjoy his work while you can.

BSO/Classical New England — 2026/02/21

 It seems from their website that the BSO ia taking the week off. WCRB steps up to the plate with an encore broadcast. They've chosen a concert from April of last year, which they describe as follows: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2024-11-04/elgars-violin-concerto-with-frank-peter-zimmermann

Saturday, February 21, 2026
8:00 PM

In an encore broadcast, Dima Slobodeniouk leads three works, all notable for their proximity to wartime. Edward Elgar’s Violin Concerto can be seen in retrospect as an idyllic calm before the storm of World War I. Adolphus Hailstork’s Lachrymosa: 1919 explores the Red Summer of 1919, a deadly backlash against Black American prosperity in the wake of the war. Stravinsky’s Symphony in Three Movements was the composer’s dark reaction to the universal devastation of World War II.

Dima Slobodeniouk, conductor
Frank Peter Zimmermann, violin

Adolphus HAILSTORK Lachrymosa: 1919
Igor STRAVINSKY Symphony in Three Movements
Edward ELGAR Violin Concerto

This concert was originally broadcast on April 5, 2025, and is no longer available on demand.

In a preview of this program, conductor Dima Slobodeniouk describes the emotional power of Hailstork's Lachrymosa: 1919, the extreme shift in energy among the different works on the program and the audience's role in facilitating that energy, and the qualities Frank Peter Zimmermann brings to Elgar's Violin Concerto. To listen, use the player above and read the transcript below.

TRANSCRIPT:

Brian McCreath This program. Three pieces that are so different from each other. Adolphus Hailstork's "Lachrymosa: 1919." Not a piece that I had known before, but what a gorgeous, beautiful, moving piece of music.

I posted about it at the time. The links to the BSO performance detail page and the Intelligencer review still work but the program notes aren't linked anymore. It's interesting to see a couple of negative comments about Zimmermann's playing in response to the review. I don't know the piece, so I can't judge how the violinist did.

Overall I guess I'd say this could be interesting, but not quite to the level of "must listening." Enjoy your evening.